Japanese word

暮れ

Pronunciation

Romajikure

Meaning

  • noundusk

Example

暮れには店が閉まります。ku re ni wa mise ga shi ma ri ma su

The shops close at dusk.

Illustration for 暮れ (dusk)

More examples

旅先で暮れの空を見上げると、海が赤く染まっていました。tabi saki de ku re no sora o mi a ge ru to umi ga aka ku so ma tte i ma shi ta

When I looked up at the evening sky during my trip, the sea was glowing red.

Core concept

Marks the time when daylight fades, and by extension the point when a period or event comes to an end.

Common phrases

  • 暮れの空ku re no sora

    the sky at dusk

  • 暮れの街ku re no machi

    the city at dusk

Similar words

日暮れhigure: The time when daylight ends and evening begins.
夕暮れyūgure: The period of fading light around sunset as evening begins.
黄昏tasogare: The dim light around sunset, a term often used in literary language.

Definition in Japanese

日が沈んであたりが暗くなる頃。また、物事や期間の終わり。hi ga shizu n de a ta ri ga kura ku na ru koro ma ta mono goto ya ki kan no o wa ri

Word origin

The noun 暮れ (kure) comes from the stem of 暮れる (kureru), meaning "to grow dark" or "to come to an end," and keeps both senses.

Usage tips

  • English "dusk" usually names the dim light after sunset, while 暮れ (kure) can also describe the period when daylight is fading toward sunset.

Other meanings

  • sunsetnoun
  • endnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 暮れ方kuregataaround dusknoun
  • 暮れ際kuresainear dusknoun

Word lists with this word